Writing Courses & Workshops Online & in London
Be inspired to write, and learn how to get published at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied. Read our success stories to see what's possible for you as a writer.
Learn from published authors
Whether you're just starting out or ready to publish your first book, the benefits of our writing courses include expert tuition from a published author and feedback on your work as you develop your writing skills. There will also be opportunities to participate in group discussions and activities with fellow students.
Unheard Voices Scholarship
City Lit’s Malorie Blackman Scholarships for 'Unheard Voices' provide three annual awards to fund one year’s study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit. Learn more >
- Artists sketchbook walkCourse start date: Sat 5 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Heidi WigmoreTake a sketchbook walk in Central London to observe, record and engage with the urban environment, both historic architecture, modern skylines, the river and parks. Quick sketching, supported by discussion and reflection along the way, will open up new ways of seeing and responding to your surroundings. Meet at City Lit main entrance.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Letizia Battaglia: Life, love and deathCourse start date: Sat 11 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ottavia CastellinaTo coincide with the Lucrezia Battaglia exhibition currently running at the Photographers' Gallery in London, this seminar will introduce you to the life and work of the noted Italian photographer Lucrezia Battaglia.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Woodblock and lino printmaking: large-scale workshopCourse start date: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Large scale printmaking enables expressive mark making. Use woodcut and linocut carving techniques to produce big, bold and multi-coloured, multi-layered prints for you to take home.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Music history bookclub: Charles Jessold, Considered as a MurdererCourse start date: Fri 17 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Edward BreenThe music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Sketching at the National GalleryCourse start date: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane MartinExplore the pleasure and challenge of sketchbooks: learn and improve your drawing skills and ‘ways of seeing’ and understanding by working from some of the iconic paintings in the National Gallery.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Life painting for beginners: summer school intensiveCourse start date: Mon 27 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This 4 day intensive course is a great introduction to painting directly from the life model, where you will make great progress in understanding how to paint from life. Using simple structured projects, you will explore different approaches to represent the human form in paint, with encouraging, helpful guidance from an experienced tutor and taking inspiration from the work of other painters. Suitable for beginners in painting who have done some life drawing previously.
Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00 - Introduction to prop making for film, TV, theatre and displayCourse start date: Mon 28 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ro SylvesterLearn a range of sculptural techniques that are used in the ever expanding film, TV and theatre prop making industry. Explore a range of sculpting and casting methods and fabricating techniques, and experiment with materials.Full fee £479.00 Senior fee £383.00 Concession £311.00 - Printmaking project: summer school intensiveCourse start date: Tue 28 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Explore and develop personal work in intaglio and relief printmaking. Techniques covered include drypoint, etching, linocut, collagraphy and photo etching. All levels of experience welcome.Full fee £339.00 Senior fee £271.00 Concession £220.00 - Children's book illustration: Summer School IntensiveCourse start date: Mon 3 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tim Ellis, Ciara Flood, Dee Shulman, Robyn Wilson-OwenExplore the world of children's book illustration on this intensive practical four-day course. Learn techniques for developing ideas and creating exciting images, whilst learning about the wider context of the current children's book market.
Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Intensive throwing week: improversCourse start date: Mon 3 Aug 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Matt SherrattLearn how to throw mugs, bowls and lidded jars. Intermediate students can use this course to refresh their skills on the wheel.Full fee £549.00 Senior fee £439.00 Concession £357.00 - English communication for life and work - with maths and digital skills (entry 3-level 1)Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you want to improve your English reading, writing, speaking and listening so that you can express yourself confidently and do the most important and common everyday tasks at home and at work? Do you also want to develop your digital skills and maths so you can use be confident online and also handle money and budget successfully? Join this course and develop your communication skills for work and personal life. You will visit places of interest such as museums, cafes and market so you develop your skills in a real life settings. You will learn how to read and write paragraphs and short texts about topics that interest you and important events. You will practise filling in forms, writing formal and informal letters and emails and you will improve your spelling, vocabulary and use of punctuation. You will also become more confident in expressing your thoughts and feelings and dealing with difficult situations, for example, at work or in your personal life. You will practise talking about your own life events and key issues such as news stories, public figures, health and culture. Your digital skills and maths will improve so you can manage your money, research important topics and use social media.
You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).
This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
Full fee £15.00 - Italian 3: practise and consolidate: module 3Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Roberto MinardiQuesta classe di conversazione ti offre la possibilità di consolidare il tuo livello intermedio di italiano praticando e perfezionando i punti grammaticali studiati al livello 3. Adatto a chi frequenta un corso al livello 3 lower or 3 upper oppure a chi ha una conoscenza equivalente della lingua.
Please note that this course takes place every other week. - Jazz harmony and ear training 1CCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys HoggWith guided listening to music forms, and singing, you will study time, form, root movement and harmonic progression, chord types, intervals, scales and modes. Learn transcribed solos and participate in playing sessions. For players who have completed terms 1 and 2 this year, and new students who have studied jazz in this way. Break week 24th May. - Jazz harmony and ear training 2CCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys HoggIf you already play jazz and can recognise intervals and 7th chords in sequence, extend your aural, harmonic and rhythmic skill through the study of jazz standards and improvisation. Our sessions involve playing as an ensemble. New students who wish to join this 3rd term are welcome to apply to music@citylit.ac.uk. Break week 24th May.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Italian 3 upper: module 3Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paola NorthQuesti corsi ti daranno la possibilitá di migliorare le tue capacitá di comprensione ed espressione scritta ed orale e sono basati sull' uso di materiale audiovisivo, lettura, discussione e pratica grammaticale. É necessario aver completato il 'module 2' o equivalente. Il corso si basa sul libro Nuovo Espresso 3 (Alma Edizioni).
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